One of my favorite spots in Statesboro is Three Tree Coffee Roasters. In fact, it's a popular spot for many locals and GSU students. In this coffee shop, you'll see friends meeting up for an iced coffee. There are usually several private and group Bible studies taking place. Someone will be quietly filling in lines of a journal or casually reading a newspaper or absorbed in the pages of a novel. But all are there to begin there day with a cup filled with something wonderful.
I love trying the different teas, lattes, and coffee blends Three Tree has to offer. And I'm never disappointed. But it's more than just a coffee house. It's where I sit with my husband on Saturday mornings, drinking my Ethiopian blend with oat milk. It's where I meet my friend, Amanda, for our monthly motivational meetings and a cup of London Fog with oat milk. It's where I sometimes begin my mornings with a quiet moment of reflection and a cup of Vanilla Maple Jade Superfood Latte with oat milk. And it's where I get my creative juices flowing, pecking away at my laptop's keyboard after a sip of Ruby Ginger Superfood Latte with (you guessed it) oat milk.
It feels wrong to say I visit Three Tree. Every time I enter this warm establishment, I feel like I've walked into a favorite room in my house. I always feel at home here. Each barista is charming. Their greetings are genuine and are always offered with warm welcomes and even warmer smiles. And as early as 7am you'll receive a cheerful "Good morning! What can I get you!" And when you leave, you'll be given a "Have a great day!" You may feel like a customer when you pull up to Three Tree, but when you leave, you'll feel like a friend.
There's this one barista in particular who is pure sunshine. He understands his assignment. You'll see Zach behind the counter holding conversations with customers as he's filling their orders or when he's walking around the shop watering the plants. You'll spot him checking on a customer to make sure she's doing okay. You'll hear him sharing a laugh with his co-workers when things have slowed in the shop. You'll catch him quietly clearing a table, being careful not to disturb someone who is too busy studying or reading to even notice he's there.
If Zach doesn't already know your name, he'll ask for it and he'll use it. This simple gesture elevates the experience!
"I'm sorry, remind me of your name again?" he asked.
"Jackie."
"Hey Jackie, how are you doing this morning?"
"Doing great! How are you?"
"I'm awesome. What can I get for you?"
"I'll take a Golden Orange Superfood Latte with oat milk."
"Sounds great, I'll get that right out for you."
Minutes after I've settled at my favorite bench by the window, Zach appears with mug of warm yummy goodness.
"Here you go, Jackie."
Fully engrossed in my work, everything and everyone slips into the background, but Zach is attentive and does his routine check-in.
"Hey Jackie, you're doing okay?"
"Yes!"
"Great!" he says glancing at my empty cup, "I'm gonna go ahead and take this for you."
As I'm typing away on a new blog topic, Zach is on his mission. With a cup already in hand, he says:
"Jackie, would you like a water?"
"Yes, thank you!"
What beautiful servant hearts he and his fellow baristas share -- tending to the needs of others, making us all feel seen, comforted, and at home.
This small group of beautiful young people fill my cup in ways they'll never know. They remind me how simple acts of kindness are impactful acts of service. Their personalities perfectly meld with the objectives of this mission driven establishment. In a 2020 interview, Philip Klayman, founder of Three Tree Coffee Roasters, stated: "For us, a tree symbolizes life-giving sacrifice. A tree does not take much from its surroundings but gives so much....Therefore, we are called Three Tree Coffee because we want to 'give life' with our threefold mission: Empower our Farmers, End Human Trafficking, and Engage the Community." Three Tree customers come together each day to contribute to works of service. Our cups are filled so that we can fill someone else's cup. What a beautiful thought!
One of my favorite quotes is from Ram Dass, a spiritual teacher and psychologist. He says: "We are just walking each other home." We all have found ourselves on this beautiful planet at the same time. Why? To climb over each other like crabs in a barrel? To gather for our own leaving everyone else to fend for themselves? To selfishly make sure we are happy and filled without being concerned about our neighbors' needs? I believe we are here to be a part of each other's lives, to accompany each other while we share time and space. For so many of us, our lives are running over with an overwhelming abundance, our cups running over. This abundance is not just for us to enjoy. We have a responsibility to fill the cups of others from our overflow. Hold a conversation with a stranger. Greet others with a smile. Compliment someone's outfit or hair style. Hold the door for another. Pick up the tab for the person in the car behind you in the drive thru lane. Small acts of kindness are impactful acts of service. Acting on purpose in this manner keeps us full.
May we find ways to keep our cups filled. When our cups are running low, may we be filled by the kindness of others. May we in turn fill the cups of others from our own abundance. Let us not wait until cups are completely empty, let us not wait to be asked. But let us be attentive to the needs of others and set the intention to make the unseen feel seen and to make the unheard feel heard.
Go to Three Tree Coffee and invest in their mission by purchasing a cup of something delicious (and try it with oat milk!). I hope to see you there!
SOURCE:
Triest, Amanda. "Meet Three Tree Coffee: The Newest $10,000 Nav Small Business Grant Winner." Nav. February 24, 2020. https://www.nav.com/blog/meet-three-tree-coffee-the-newest-10000-nav-small-business-grant-winner-513350/.
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